If there is something that food trucks do well, it’s the modern spin on classic cuisine. Enter: barbeque mash ups--taking two of your favorite things and putting them together for something undeniably delicious. This National BBQ Day, come with us as we spot the food trucks around town that prove bbq doesn’t have to stand alone.

1. We all love a baked potato, but mash it with brisket from Louie’s Craft BBQ in Downtown Buda and you have yourself a Loaded Brisket Baked Potato that comfort food in Texas is made of. This buttery, cheesy, burnt-endy chunk of pure comfort is our go to meal when we just want all the things that make us feel at home. Pair it with the spicy green salsa, wash it down with a Big Red and you’ll never look back.

2. Move over brisket, cauliflower has something to say and you need to hear it. Say hello to this bite-sized delight that is the Big Daddy Cauliflower Wings with their signature spicy barbeque sauce from Bat Wings Co. in Jordan and Cambria’s Rail Switch. Delicious to even meat eaters, this vegetarian take on chicken wings is perfectly crisp and full of flavor. Add a dunk of their homemade sweet and spicy barbeque sauce for that mash up of wings meets barbeque we are living for.

3. Top three foods in Texas: and go! If you just enthusiastically yelled at your screen chili peppers, queso and brisket then we are on the same page. I’d like to introduce you to an off menu concoction from Shugabees Texas BBQ that includes all three. Start by ordering their hatch green chili queso and scoop in some of their chopped brisket for a *chefs kiss of an experience. The slight spice from the chilis mixed with the sweet bbq sauce from the chopped brisket will find you at the end of the queso bowl asking for more.

Whichever mash up you choose to enjoy this National BBQ Day, we promise you this: you will not be disappointed. No one is judging you if you try all three. Besides, every day is National BBQ Day with Visit Buda, Tx. Share your experience on social using the tag #budafuleats.

On the south end of Main Street not too far from the downtown scene you’ll find the first and only craft brewery in Buda -- a unique brewery with an eclectic variety of beers to quench your thirst. As soon as you enter, you can feel the 80's vibe featuring fascinating wall art and

painted skateboards mounted on the wall. With a good deal of outdoor benches and board games you can grab, this is a great place to visit when passing time with your buds. An unquestionable local favorite is the Budaful Blonde. This blonde ale has a nice citrus and malt flavor that has a smooth sip. And if you’re like us, you always have to ask the bartender their current favorite. The Race Pointe IPA with a fruity aroma of pineapple and mango came highly recommended by Two Wheel. They are constantly crafting new brews, so there is always a reason to come back and try more.

Two Wheel Brewing Co.

535 S LOOP 4

Buda, TX 78610

(512) 361-3401

Hours:

Wed 4pm-9pm (Roll of the Dice)

Thu 4pm-9pm (Happy Hour ALL DAY)

Fri 4pm-10pm (Happy hour 4pm-7pm)

Sat 12pm-10pm

Sun 12pm-8pm

2. The Cigar Vault

The only town you’ll find a bank vault of hand-selected cigars is here in the heart of Downtown Buda. A great place for a get together at a one-of-a-kind historic location. From the outside, it may come across as a vintage shop, but when you walk in you’ll

find an easy going lounge with classic leather sofas to unwind, smoke cigars and have a few beers.

With such a large variety of cigars to choose from, staff is ready to provide recommendations based on your tastes all while doing a fantastic job of making you feel welcomed. Head outside and down the alleyway to find a big open patio with live music performances and a food truck on the weekends.

The Cigar Vault

210 N MAIN STREET

Buda, TX 78610

(512) 361-3289

Hours: Sun-Thu 12pm-8pm; Fri-Sat 10am-11pm

3. Willie’s Joint
If you’ve been to Buda and you haven’t checked out Willie’s yet then you’re missing out. This BBQ restaurant and bar has room for everyone and is ideal for large groups of people to have a good experience, while enjoying some live entertainment outside. They have live entertainment on occasions, and we just so happened to come on a day where they had open Karaoke outside (and as always, Margaritaville was the top hit). Whether you’re throwing washers with the boys or owning jumbo Jenga, the experience outside at Willie’s is unmatched with so much to do, and if you come with an appetite, their BBQ won’t disappoint and is sure to fill you up. Recognized as one of the top margaritas in town and plenty of drink options from both inside or at the outdoor bar, there is no doubt you can find a drink here that satisfies your sips--or gulps.

Willie’s Joint

824 MAIN STREET

Buda, TX 78610

(512) 295-0483

Hours:

Mon-Tue 2pm-1am

Wed-Thur 11:30am-1am

Fri-Sat 11:30am-2pm

Sun 11:30am-1am

4. Growler Express
Further down the strip, you’ll find this local taproom that works to serve local Texas breweries straight from the tap. They currently carry 24 taps that offer a unique variety of craft beers like (512) Brewing Company and SpindleTap Brewery. Invite your friends here to watch sporting games and events inside or compete with the collection of board games they offer (they even have dominoes). Everyone here is very conversational and friendly which helps to keep the bar vibe very laid back and open. This is a remarkable place to bring your friends to try top craft beers around Texas, while avoiding the large crowds of Austin taprooms. You can drink pints from the tap, in a can, or try multiple at once with flights. If you’re out during the day, you definitely want to invite some of your buddies out for a refreshing selection of beers to choose from at Growler!

Growler Express

1567 MAIN STREET #800

Buda, TX 78610

(512) 361-0911

Hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-10pm; Sat 2pm-10pm; Sun 2pm-9pm

5. Pinballz Kingdom
Have you ever noticed a red dragon on top of a castle going up I-35 North? Well, it’s not just your imagination or a renaissance shop, it's actually an arcade! But not just any arcade either, Pinballz is an arcade designed for both the young and young at heart. With many classic game

machines from Space Invaders and Galaga to the newer generation of games -- and of course plenty of pinball machines -- there are more than enough games for your group to play while you’re here. They also have a full-service bar and kitchen, which kept us there playing games longer than we expected. Although the variety of top-notch games featured at Pinballz tends to be the highlight of this place, the food there is simply undeniable--not to mention they have earned recognition for the best burger in town. We got to try their Pulled Pork sandwich and The Kingdom Burger, but we all were so full that we had to take a minute to rest before testing out the arcade games.

Comfort, country-style is the best way to describe this Texas BBQ trailer. The unique aesthetics of the trailer and fenced yard for seating really set the tone for the delicious meal it had to offer. To start off, we ordered a ½ lb. of lean cut brisket which came neatly wrapped in a fresh 12 in. homemade tortilla. We were given their specialty-made sauces, but first, we wanted to see if the brisket could hold its own without the help of any add-ons. The first bite gave us a soft, juicy and tender chunk of meat. It was a thick slice, but well-cut, as it was not tough to chew. The meat had a different flavor, other than the traditional smokey aftertaste. The fat on the brisket is what held most of the flavor to give a savory taste of good seasoning. After the first few bites of eating the brisket with tortilla, we decided to crank up the heat. This is when the special sauces came into play.

Shugabee’s Unique Sauces -

Mustard Twang: If you think Honey Mustard is your go-to sauce, you haven’t tried this twang.

Shugabee’s Orange-Habanero Honey: Sweet with a hint spicy, you could distinctively taste both the honey and habanero (couldn’t stop pouring on the brisket taco).

Shugabee’s Habanero Sting: If you like spicy definitely pour this on your BBQ, but be careful because when you’re dealing with this sauce, it will sting.

2. Louie’s

Tucked away in Downtown Buda you’ll find a modern, colorful, tex-mex style food trailer welcoming you to take a seat at their BBQ filled table. There were plenty of benches in this courtyard where the trailer and BBQ pits were set up together. After getting our food, we could smell the smokiness of the brisket on the walk to our seats. The bark on the outside layer was a nice dark color, while the inside had a nice smoke ring hue just underneath the bark giving it the perfect details to a well-cooked Texas brisket. Before taking a bite of the meat, we could not keep our eyes off how delish the sides looked. We ordered a side of a cheesy mac-n-cheese along with smoked elote (as anyone who loves tex-mex knows -- street corn). This corn was prepared exactly the way we like it and added a Texas BBQ twist to the meal. It was tempting to stuff our faces with a spoonful of corn and mac, but we stayed strong and took bites of the BBQ brisket we came to try first. The texture of the brisket was tender and had a satisfying smokey flavor with slices that were thick and flavor-packed. The homemade BBQ sauce added a tangy touch to the brisket that we’re 100% here for! You could argue that this BBQ trailer is a secret gem of the downtown dining scene.

3. Willie’s Joint

Making our way into the last destination, we got a distinct western and Texan vibe from this Bar and BBQ joint. The outdoor space is perfect for any entertainment and outdoor dining experience. Inside the restaurant, we ordered our meal and helped ourselves to a serving of pickles, jalapenos and their very own original BBQ sauce and Mustard BBQ sauce. We patiently waited to taste the sauces until our food was brought out. Our order for the day was a ¼ lb. of lean-cut brisket with a side of spicy baked beans and potato salad. The brisket slices held a nice pink color and smoke ring while juices dripped off the inside layer. The first bite gave us a moist, mouth-watering taste with a soft texture. The fat held onto the juicy flavor, however, the brisket overall had a unique blend of spices and seasoning. It gave us enough flavor to enjoy without requiring the addition of any sauces, but we did add some just for looks. The original BBQ sauce was sweet, thick and peppery, while the Mustard BBQ sauce packed a zesty and tangy kick to the brisket. After lighting up our taste buds with the brisket and homemade sauces, we shifted our focus on the sides. The potato salad was a good mixture of ingredients to give a sweet and creamy flavor. Taking on the spicy baked beans, we were surprised by the balance of sweet and moderate spicy bites of these Texas BBQ style beans. The sides did a great job of adding a sweet kick to the sharp taste of BBQ.